This has nothing to do with winning or losing, or Carmelo Anthony’s strengths and weakness as a basketball player, or the triangle offense.
It’s about basic human decency and how you treat people.
From what we know from the New York Knicks president’s Twitter handle, on-the-record interviews and sourced reports, Phil Jackson has been disrespectful towards Melo. Some of it to such a grave extent that the duo had to have a midseason meeting and Melo was forced to speak about it during media availability on multiple occasions.
All of the issues and drama could’ve been easily avoided.
Melo openly answers questions on a regular basis. He talks with the media regularly at practices and games – the responses are genuine and honest. If you pay attention, you get a decent look into how he feels about what’s going on.
The other side of this equation isn’t the same at all. Jackson is evasive, cryptic and doesn’t mind leaving people wondering whether his friends are speaking for him or are on their own. He hasn’t taken questions from the local New York media since the beginning of training camp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPYHt6pHAiU
More important than whether Jackson speaks or doesn’t speak with the media, though, is his handling of Anthony. The games need to end. Anthony has been truthful and open – Jackson must do the same.
“To be honest with you, it’s kind of hard to say he let me down,” Anthony said after the Knicks season ended when asked if he felt Jackson hasn’t kept his part of the bargain. “I wanted to win, they knew that when I signed my contract here a couple years ago. That still is my mindset. But if that’s not the direction they want to go in – all it is for me is communication.”
Anthony was asked an excellent follow up “directly as opposed to…” (question was clearly leading about Jackson giving Anthony messages through the media rather than directly with him).
“Communicate with me directly,” said Anthony. “If there’s a direction that you want to go in, I’ll respect that. If it’s something that you want to continue to build on, I’ll respect that too. Just communicate with me, just be up front with me, just communicate with me and I’m open.”
This task shouldn’t be all that difficult for Jackson to accomplish. It’s something that should have been done a long time ago. Quality relationships in any profession are built around strong communication. The definition of communication is “a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.”
“Between individuals” being the two key words for which the Jackson and Anthony situation is lacking. One side (Anthony) has done his job on this front. The other side (Jackson) has a long way to go.
Unlike the NBA Draft combine in Chicago from last season, and traveling to scout live games with an upcoming lottery pick, this is one aspect of Phil Jackson’s job he can’t avoid with an excuse. Regardless of what happens with Melo now, Jackson’s signed on for two more years in New York. If the Knicks are going to succeed with Phil at the helm, that culture starts with better communication from the top.
